The latest episode of Radiolab was all about Games, and included a story from Stephen Dubner (co-author of Freakonomics)about growing up as a sports fan. Even as a long-time non-sports fan, I can agree with his very succint summary of Why Sports Matter:

“You can put too much of your emotional life in the hands of people who don’t know you and have no responsibility for you, but I think sports fandom is a fantastic gift with almost immeasurable value. It’s a proxy for real life, but better. It renews itself, it’s constantly happening in real time. There are conflicts that seem to carry real consequences but at the end of the day don’t – it’s war where nobody dies. It’s a proxy for all our emotions and desires and hopes, I mean, heck, what’s not to like about sports?”

1/10/10: January included a trip to the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in the Oakland hills. I was expecting an active volcano, but my disappointment was quickly swept away thanks to the marginally entertaining labyrinth paths.

2/11/10: In February I saw a Citroën DS which has to be the most fake futuristic car ever. Recently I saw one in The 10th Victim.

4/19/10: On my birthday Anna and Baimba did some clever hair-trick at La Pinata in Alamenda.

4/24/10: Kris and I had an epic Fresno weekend which included a pretty great turn-out at the Clovis Rodeo.

6/3/10: KKMM starring in Newsies.

6/16/10: Merle Haggard at the Mountain Winery was everything I thought it would be.

7/29/10: Not sure which North Beach date this was, but Kris in front of American Zoetrope suddenly felt very European.

It’s been a while since the midweek playlist was actually posted on a Wednesday (or at all), but I was recently able to get caught up with music blogs, and thought I’d share some findings. “Top Bunk” is my favorite and thus gets top billing. Enjoy!